The Legal Operations Manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing operational frameworks that enable the Group Legal function to deliver strategic value across banking subsidiaries. The role drives efficiency, consistency, and risk resilience by embedding standardized processes, legal technology solutions, and performance metrics. The role ensures seamless coordination of matter management, contract lifecycle oversight, compliance tracking, and resource allocation, while safeguarding adherence to multi-jurisdictional regulatory requirements. Acting as a central enabler, the position supports legal teams in achieving operational excellence, cost discipline, and timely delivery of legal services aligned to the Group’s strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Legal Operations Management: Oversee the day-to-day operational activities of the department, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of services. Serve as the coordination point between Group Legal, subsidiaries and business units: schedule and run team meetings and country catch‑ups, circulate agendas/minutes, and maintain action trackers.
- Administrative Support: Manage the Group Head of Legal’s calendar and key governance timelines to ensure alignment of priorities and timely follow‑up.
- Budget, Resourcing and Reporting: Compile and monitor the legal operations budget, track actuals vs. plan, and highlight opportunities for cost control and efficiency. Maintain resourcing rosters (workload, leave, back‑ups) and publish a monthly operations report and dashboard for senior leadership and governance forums.
- Legal Process and Technology Coordination: Administer and refine core legal workflows and tools to keep matters moving predictably across all subsidiaries. Prepare performance dashboards on SLA adherence, cycle times, and quality metrics, and flag bottlenecks early for quick resolution. Implement processes, policies, and workflows to improve legal team efficiency. Monitor the department’s performance against established KPIs and prepare reports for the Head of Legal Operations.
- Policy, Governance and Knowledge Management: Ensure the effective management, organization, and storage of legal documents, contracts, and case files in accordance with regulatory and internal policies. Maintain policy repositories, precedent libraries, and operational playbooks with strict version control to ensure consistent application across jurisdictions. Oversee the implementation and maintenance of secure document management systems. Coordinate updates, communicate changes, and host short knowledge‑sharing sessions to embed new or revised practices.
- Risk and Controls Monitoring: Maintain an operational risk register covering process, contract, compliance, and vendor risks; coordinate control testing and mitigation tracking with country teams, Risk, and Compliance. Provide concise risk status updates at agreed cadences (e.g., monthly ops review, quarterly governance).
- Compliance Operations Support: Consolidate regulatory impact assessments and implementation trackers from country legal teams, and monitor progress against compliance programs with Group Compliance. Escalate delays, log remediation actions, and circulate monthly compliance snapshots to leadership.
- Vendor Administration: Support evaluations, onboarding, and matter logistics for external service providers; track SLA performance, matter outcomes, and cost metrics in a simple scorecard. Prepare periodic cost/quality reports to inform renewals and consolidate feedback for negotiations.
Key Decisions Made by the Job-Holder
- Escalate operational issues and prepare summary reports.
- Prioritize legal workflows and advisory support tasks.
- Allocate resources for compliance and transaction processing.
- Select external legal service providers within budget.
- Approve minor process and technology changes.
Complexity Expected in the Role
This role involves significant complexity, including:
- Multi-Jurisdictional Scope: Coordinating legal operations across multiple countries with diverse regulatory frameworks.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working with legal, compliance, risk, finance, and governance teams to align priorities.
- Third-Party Management: Handling engagements with external counsel and vendors to ensure quality and cost control.
Qualifications and Requirements
Academic Qualifications and Certifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Master’s degree or certification in Project Management, Legal Operations, or Business Process Management is an advantage.
Experience Requirements:
- At least 5 years’ previous experience in legal operations, preferably within the financial industry, including experience in compliance, reporting, contracts, or related legal functions.
Key Technical Skills & Leadership Competencies:
- Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools to effectively plan, execute, and monitor legal projects.
- Familiarity with legal technology and software for contract management, compliance tracking, and analytics.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey information in a clear and concise manner.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
